I’ve been to Vienna a few times before, but it never occurred to me that it’s a fantastic spot for soaking in the autumn foliage. I was there to meet a friend, and by accident, I had a free day all to myself—so I thought, why not chase the autumn vibes?
Vienna really shines during the seasonal transition, with its parks in full display of changing colors. There are plenty of great spots to explore and enjoy the fall colors.
Since I only had one day and no real plan, I decided to let my feet lead the way and just wander around spontaneously. It turned out to be an amazing day—I strolled through beautiful parks, tried to capture squirrels with my camera, and even stumbled upon an Oktoberfest celebration and an amusement park!
Schönbrunn Palace Park
Schönbrunn Palace Park was my first stop, and it’s without a doubt a must-see, not just during autumn but any time you’re in Vienna. Though the palace itself is a bit removed from the city center, it’s incredibly easy to reach, whether by foot or public transport.
The palace and park, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, stretch over a vast area—1.2 km from east to west and about a kilometer from north to south. The park is full of picturesque, leaf-covered paths, horse-drawn carriages, playful squirrels, panoramic city views, stunning fountains, botanical gardens, and even a zoo.
Since this post is all about autumn in Vienna, I’ll skip the palace tour (more on that in my upcoming Vienna guide!) and dive into the gardens. Despite visiting the palace twice before, I had never ventured far into the gardens, and I had no idea what a treasure I’d been missing!
You could easily spend hours wandering the gardens—I ended up spending about 3-4 hours myself. I entered through the main gate (Haupt Tor) and headed west toward Hietzinger Tor. There I passed the botanical garden, established by Emperor Franz I Stephan in 1753, as well as the Palm House (built in 1881) and the Desert House, commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I. To visit the buildings, you’ll need a ticket—either a combined one or separate entries. I chose the Palm House, and while it’s not the largest I’ve been to, it was still a delight to explore, with beautiful flowers and even some festive pumpkin decorations to capture the autumn vibe!
Behind the Palm House is the zoo, originally founded by Emperor Franz I Stephan. It requires a separate ticket, so I skipped it this time, but it’s definitely worth a visit if you have more time.
As I followed the pathways back to the park’s center, I came across a circular open space featuring the Naiad Fountain, a beautiful sculpture-filled pool. There are actually two such fountains at the intersection of the park’s two main avenues.
Deeper into the park, I found myself standing with the palace on one side and the breathtaking Neptune Fountain on the other. Commissioned by Maria Theresa in the 1770s, the Neptune Fountain is stunning, regardless of the season. While the rosebushes around it weren’t in bloom during my autumn visit, the fountain itself was still a sight to behold.
Behind the fountain, a pathway leads uphill. Although the climb is short, the view at the top is absolutely worth it. From there, you get a stunning vista of the garden, the palace, and the city of Vienna stretching out in the distance.
At the top of the hill stands the Gloriette, which once served as both an excursion spot and a ballroom for the monarchs. After admiring the views, I followed a smaller path to the “Small Gloriette,” where I had a heartwarming encounter. I met a 3-year-old with a bag of nuts and a very patient mom, both trying to attract squirrels. The little one and I teamed up for some squirrel-watching, and I had a blast snapping photos—yes, I was the weird stranger hanging out with a toddler, but I had the best time! 😄
From the Small Gloriette, I started to head downhill, ready to leave the park, but then I spotted something intriguing—a ruin! Curiosity got the best of me, and I rerouted to explore more of the park. I’m so glad I did because I discovered an artificial Roman ruin called the Ruin of Carthage, built in 1778, along with the Obelisk Fountain, another Naiad Fountain, and a Columbarium.
Honestly, I didn’t expect the gardens to be so extensive or packed with so many hidden gems. If you have the time, definitely explore more than just the Neptune Fountain and Gloriette, which are usually the main tourist draws. The park has so much more to offer!
Check out this map for more of the interesting things to see in the park.
Belvedere Palace
I stopped by Belvedere with my friend the day before, and while the palace itself is stunning, the gardens definitely look better in the spring when the roses are in full bloom. With that in mind, I decided to skip it the next day when I was out with my camera, chasing autumn scenery.
That said, if you do decide to visit, you won’t be disappointed. The view of the city from the gardens is fantastic, and Belvedere isn’t just one building—it’s a complex of two Baroque palaces: the Upper and Lower Belvedere. Originally built as summer residences for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the two palaces are connected by beautifully landscaped gardens.
Belvedere is also a treasure trove of Baroque and Austrian art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Its crowning glory is the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, including the iconic The Kiss. So if you’re an art lover or just enjoy history, Belvedere is a must-visit.
Karlsplatz
Right after my visit to Schönbrunn Palace, I hopped on a train and headed straight for the city center. I got off at Karlsplatz and snapped a few pictures of the beautiful Karlskirche (Charles’s Church) and the surrounding area. The church’s Baroque architecture is absolutely stunning, especially with the reflection in the nearby pond. The whole area around Karlsplatz is charming, with plenty of picturesque corners and a lively atmosphere.
Hofburg
From Karlsplatz, I made my way towards the Hofburg—the former imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty in Austria. It’s truly an enormous palace complex, covering over 300,000 m², making it one of the largest integrated palace complexes in the world!
Although my main mission was to chase autumn leaves in the two parks adjacent to the palace (Burggarten and Volksgarten), I couldn’t resist stopping by the Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House). I have a soft spot for squirrels and butterflies, so of course, it grabbed my attention! Inside, I had a lovely time admiring the butterflies, and even two of them landed on my head—though not long enough for me to snap a photo, unfortunately.
However, I was heartbroken to see some children touching the butterflies’ wings, with parents not intervening. I ended up in tears when I saw one poor butterfly struggling to eat because two of its wings were damaged. So, if you visit, remember to look and take as many photos as you like, but please don’t touch them—these delicate creatures need to be treated with care.
As for the parks, both Burggarten and Volksgarten looked stunning with their autumn colors. However, Volksgarten is slightly bigger and made for better photo opportunities, with its wide paths and beautifully maintained gardens.
Burggarten
Volksgarten
Rathausplatz
Right across the street from Volksgarten is Rathausplatz. While it was a bit tricky to capture autumn scenery there, I had a great time taking pictures of the circus set up in front of the Rathaus (Vienna City Hall). The lively atmosphere added a fun twist to the backdrop of the grand Gothic building. There were also plenty of opportunities to enjoy street food and soak in the vibrant energy of the square.
Setagayapark
When I was looking online for spots to enjoy autumn colors, a lot of sources recommended Setagayapark, the Japanese Gardens. I was really tempted to check it out, but since it was a bit out of my way, I ended up skipping it.
However, it does seem like a beautiful and peaceful place, especially with the contrast of Japanese landscaping and autumn foliage—it could definitely be worth a visit if you have the time! If you’re into serene, less crowded spots, Setagayapark might offer a unique twist on the traditional autumn scenery. Maybe next time!
Prater
While browsing Google Maps, I noticed a massive green space—Prater. I didn’t know much about it beyond the fact that it’s huge, full of trees (perfect for fall photos), and home to the famous Ferris wheel. Little did I know, Prater would end up being the biggest surprise of my whole trip.
As soon as I arrived, I spotted a huge crowd of people all heading in the same direction. My curiosity got the better of me, so I followed them, and it didn’t take long to realize that everyone was dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndls—they were celebrating Oktoberfest! It also took me a moment to register that, yes, it was actually October! 😄 The atmosphere was incredible—people dancing on tables, singing along to German folk songs, and just having a blast. It was such an unexpected and fun experience!
As the sun began to set, I left the Oktoberfest area and set off to finally find some trees for my autumn photo mission.
I followed the main path and, to my surprise, found myself in an amusement park! I had no idea Prater had such a lively, funfair vibe. I even lucked out and won a prize after playing a few arcade games!
Unfortunately, with just 1.5 hours left before my flight, I had to dash and catch a taxi to the airport. But I’ll definitely be back to explore Prater again—there’s so much more to discover!
Summary
It was an amazing trip—not only did I get to reunite with my best friend after such a long time, but I also had the chance to take some fantastic photos. By the end of the day, I was completely wiped out—my little photo session ended up being 35k steps! But honestly, every single step was worth it. I had so much fun exploring Vienna and capturing its beauty, especially since I never realized how stunning the city could be in autumn. And no, you definitely don’t have to visit all those spots in one day—I’m just way too excited to sit still when I’m traveling! 😄
